Eastman Chemical Company announced that it has decided to discontinue development of its Beaumont, Texas, industrial gasification project. This decision was made due to a number of factors, including high capital costs, the current and foreseen reduced spread between natural gas and oil and petroleum coke prices, and continued uncertainty regarding U.S. energy and environmental public policy. As a result of this decision, the company will recognize a pre-tax non-cash asset impairment charge estimated to be between $150 million-$180 million in the fourth quarter 2009.

The DOE breathes new life into the FutureGen project in Mattoon, IL. The DOE issued a statement that it will support the FutureGen project with funding. The FutureGen site is in Mattoon, IL. The DOE issued a Record of Decision that clears the way for the FutureGen project to continue with site specific work to further the project development.

Hydrogen Power selected by DOE to receive $308 million funding from the Clean Coal Power Initiative. This is part of the third round of the Clean Coal Power Initiative (CCPI). The initiative was made possible by President Bush when he signed the 2005 Energy Act and is designed to increase investment in low-emission coal technology by demonstrating advanced coal-based, power generation technologies.

Sherritt International has been planning a coal gasification plant in Alberta. Sherritt has decided to delay the Dodds-Roundhill Coal Gasification Project due to the difficult financial markets and economy. The proposed Project, the Dodds-Roundhill Coal Gasification Project, would include a surface coal mine and a coal gasification facility located approximately 80 km southeast of Edmonton, Alberta.

The Kentucky Division of Air Quality issued the Final Air Permit for the Cash Creek gasification project. This is an important permitting step that is necessary for the project to continue to the construction phase.

BP has entered into a takeoff agreement with Secure Energy to purchase synthetic natural gas produced at the Decatur Coal Gasification plant after startup. BP Canada Energy Marketing Company (BP) and Secure Energy, Incorporated announced that they have entered into a long term natural gas sales agreement whereby BP will purchase up to 67 million cubic feet of natural gas per day from the Secure Energy Decatur Plant once it has been constructed and becomes operational.

Peabody and White Energy plan to build a lignite upgrading plant in Montana. Peabody Energy announced a joint venture to build a coal upgrading plant in Montana. The Peabody and White Energy coal upgrading facility will be built at an unnamed Peabody site in Montana. Under the terms of the agreement, Peabody will have the right to purchase 15% of White Energy and has the first right to participate in future White Energy coal upgrading projects.

Rentech announces a biomass-to-liquids project with near zero carbon footprint.

According to a news release by Shaw Group, Sasol selected Shaw Group to provide basic engineering services for two Fischer-Tropsch projects. Shaw Group will provide basic engineering for Sasol’s Wax Expansion Project in Sasolburg, South Africa. Shaw Group will also provide basic engineering for Sasol Technologies Fischer-Tropsch licensing group. Shaw Group is providing basic engineering [...]

The Department of Energy (DOE) announced that it will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to assess the environmental impact of the TXE Industrial Gasification Facility that will be constructed in Beaumont, Texas. The facility is owned by TX Energy LLC, a subsidiary of Eastman Chemical Company. The DOE is preparing the EIS for the [...]